Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco during the St. Petersburg Bowl NCAA college football game against Marshall Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco during the St. Petersburg Bowl NCAA college football game against Marshall Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Photo: Chris O'Meara, Associated Press

Image 2 of 30

Image 3 of 30

In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange Euronext, Kevin Ollie, the coach the Connecticut Men’s basketball team, left, rings the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange Euronext, Thursday, April 10, 2014 in New York. In the center is Warde Manuel, the university athletic director, and at right is Connecticut Woman’s basketball coach, Geno Auriemma. Both coaches led their teams to the 2014 NCAA Championship. (AP Photo/NYSE Euronext, Dario Cantone) less

In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange Euronext, Kevin Ollie, the coach the Connecticut Men’s basketball team, left, rings the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange Euronext, Thursday, ... more

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 05: Head coach Geno Auriemma of the Connecticut Huskies holds up the net after cutting it down following their 82-51 victory over the Syracuse Orange to win the 2016 NCAA Women's Final Four Basketball Championship at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 5, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX *** less

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 05: Head coach Geno Auriemma of the Connecticut Huskies holds up the net after cutting it down following their 82-51 victory over the Syracuse Orange to win the 2016 NCAA Women's Final ... more

Photo: Andy Lyons

Image 7 of 30

Connecticut’s Breanna Stewart holds up her jersey as Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, left, and father, Brian Stewart, right, looks on during senior day ceremonies prior to an NCAA college basketball game against Tulane, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Connecticut’s Breanna Stewart holds up her jersey as Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, left, and father, Brian Stewart, right, looks on during senior day ceremonies prior to an NCAA college basketball ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Image 8 of 30

Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco, left, talks to linebacker Graham Stewart (2) during the first quarter of the St. Petersburg Bowl NCAA college football game against Marshall, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) less

Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco, left, talks to linebacker Graham Stewart (2) during the first quarter of the St. Petersburg Bowl NCAA college football game against Marshall, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, in St. ... more

Photo: Chris O'Meara, Associated Press

Image 9 of 30

Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco looks down as he rubs his head during the second half of an NCAA college football game against the Temple, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, in Philadelphia. Temple won 27-3. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) less

Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco looks down as he rubs his head during the second half of an NCAA college football game against the Temple, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, in Philadelphia. Temple won 27-3. (AP ... more

Photo: Chris Szagola, Associated Press

Image 10 of 30

Image 11 of 30

Big 12 Conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby addresses the media at the beginning of football media days in Dallas in 2013.

Big 12 Conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby addresses the media at the beginning of football media days in Dallas in 2013.

Photo: Tim Sharp /Associated Press

Image 12 of 30

Connecticut head coach Kevin Ollie and Kentucky head coach John Calipari talk during a television interview for the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Sunday, April 6, 2014, in Arlington, Texas. Connecticut plays Kentucky in the championship game on Monday, April 7. 2014. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) less

Connecticut head coach Kevin Ollie and Kentucky head coach John Calipari talk during a television interview for the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Sunday, April 6, 2014, in ... more

Photo: David J. Phillip, Associated Press

Image 13 of 30

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma watches action during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State in the regional semifinals of the women's NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March 26, 2016, in Bridgeport, Conn. less

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma watches action during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State in the regional semifinals of the women's NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, AP

Image 14 of 30

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Temple Owls talks to head coach Bob Diaco of the Connecticut Huskies prior to the game on November 28, 2015 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. less

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Temple Owls talks to head coach Bob Diaco of the Connecticut Huskies prior to the game on November 28, 2015 at Lincoln Financial Field in ... more

Photo: Mitchell Leff, Getty Images

Image 15 of 30

Image 16 of 30

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Bob Diaco of the Connecticut Huskies reacts during the game against the Temple Owls on November 28, 2015 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Owls defeated the Huskies 27-3. less

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Bob Diaco of the Connecticut Huskies reacts during the game against the Temple Owls on November 28, 2015 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The ... more

Photo: Mitchell Leff, Getty Images

Image 17 of 30

FILE - This Nov. 21, 2015 photo shows Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Houston in East Hartford, Conn. Diaco has agreed to a two-year contract extension designed to keep him in Storrs through the 2020 football season, the school said Monday, May 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Stew Milne) less

FILE - This Nov. 21, 2015 photo shows Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Houston in East Hartford, Conn. Diaco has agreed to a two-year contract ... more

Photo: Stew Milne, Associated Press

Image 18 of 30

EAST HARTFORD, CT - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Bob Diaco of the Connecticut Huskies yells to his team during the fourth quarter against the Houston Cougars at Rentschler Field on November 21, 2015 in East Hartford, Connecticut. The Huskies defeated the Cougars 20-17. less

EAST HARTFORD, CT - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Bob Diaco of the Connecticut Huskies yells to his team during the fourth quarter against the Houston Cougars at Rentschler Field on November 21, 2015 in East ... more

Photo: Rich Schultz, Getty Images

Image 19 of 30

Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco talks with center judge Charles Lamertina, right, and line judge Baron Ballester, left, following an illegal hit on his quarterback Bryant Shirreffs during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Stew Milne) less

Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco talks with center judge Charles Lamertina, right, and line judge Baron Ballester, left, following an illegal hit on his quarterback Bryant Shirreffs during the first quarter of ... more

Photo: Stew Milne, Associated Press

Image 20 of 30

Image 21 of 30

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, left, smiles as he listens to a reporter's question as he leaves a new conference after a meeting Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Irving, Texas. Big 12 presidents and chancellors came to one agreement while working through the possibility of a football championship game, expansion and a league-wide television network, they are going to defer all comments to commissioner Bowlsby. (AP Photo/LM Otero) less

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, left, smiles as he listens to a reporter's question as he leaves a new conference after a meeting Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Irving, Texas. Big 12 presidents and chancellors came ... more

Photo: LM Otero, Associated Press

Image 22 of 30

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby arrives to speak to reporters after the first day of the conference's meeting Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby arrives to speak to reporters after the first day of the conference's meeting Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Photo: LM Otero, Associated Press

Image 23 of 30

Ccommissioner Bob Bowlsby addresses attendees of Big 12 Conference Football Media Days in Dallas on July 20, 2015.

Ccommissioner Bob Bowlsby addresses attendees of Big 12 Conference Football Media Days in Dallas on July 20, 2015.

FILE - In this April 3, 2016, file photo, Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma cheers for his team during the second half of a semifinal against Oregon State, at the women's Final Four in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Indianapolis. Auriemma spent a few days in the hospital last week after taking himself off a plane on April 16. "It started the week of the Final Four. It got worse when I got home," Auriemma told The Associated Press on Tuesday night, April 26. "I thought I was over it and then I was laid up for three or four days." AP Photo/AJ Mast, File) less

FILE - In this April 3, 2016, file photo, Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma cheers for his team during the second half of a semifinal against Oregon State, at the women's Final Four in the NCAA college basketball ... more

Photo: AJ Mast, Associated Press

Image 29 of 30

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma addresses the media at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. on Sunday, March 27, 2016. UConn plays Texas in the NCAA Regional Championship game on Monday.

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma addresses the media at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. on Sunday, March 27, 2016. UConn plays Texas in the NCAA Regional Championship game on Monday.

Photo: Brian A. Pounds, Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 30 of 30

Would ESPN lean on the Big 12 to accept UConn as a potential expansion member?

1 / 30

Back to Gallery

In the world of college athletics, an action typically produces a similar reaction somewhere else.

As the Big 12 considers its future with expansion candidates, the conference appears to have several candidates who are about equal with different strengths and weaknesses.

Most believe BYU and Cincinnati are the most attractive potential candidates because of both schools' established success in football.

Others schools looking outside might need some help in pushing their cause as candidates. Houston could push its locale as a potential boost, although already having four schools in the state could detract from the Cougars in the minds of current members.

Memphis has been rumored to have a large sum ready to be underwritten by Memphis-based FedEx to build the school's facilities and infrastructure. The company also has been rumored to be ready to underwrite a potential Big 12 football championship game.

One of the most intriguing candidates could be Connecticut, which is already judged to be the nation's foremost power in women's college basketball and a solid program in men's basketball where the Huskies have won four national championships since 1999.

Their football program, however, isn't as accomplished as those other programs at the school, leading some to believe the Huskies would lag behind some of the other challengers as a potential expansion inclusion.

Well-respected Hartford Courant columnist Jeff Jacobs says that a certain Connecticut-based entertainment company might have the clout to help boost the school's Big 12 hopes. And he has a point.

ESPN has a long relationship working with the conference since its formative stages. Jacobs hints that ESPN should do what it could to help push the Big 12 to seriously consider UConn as an expansion member.

"One person could argue with some merit that ESPN could help UConn best behind closed doors, away from the media, and the less said the better," Jacobs wrote. "That sounds great. Yet the school is also 0-for-realignment, so another person could argue ESPN hasn't done nearly enough."

Jacobs mentions a serious of tax breaks that ESPN has received from the state of Connecticut that helped them build their campus in Bristol at a reduced cost from other places in the nation.

"In the end, ESPN is going to do what's most profitable for ESPN, but should ESPN then push even harder for its home state university?" Jacobs said. "It's absurd to believe ESPN doesn't wield great influence.

"Right or wrong, there are a lot of taxpayers who won't be happy if ESPN doesn't do all it could with the future of UConn sports in the balance. And they'd have at least $260 million reasons in tax breaks and credit to be angry.

"Just saying."

With the Big Ten hinting it could be moving more games to the Fox network and away from ESPN, the network could be looking for more Power Five programming. Maybe more exposures for the Big 12 at a higher contract might be possible.

But what if that offer came with a promise involved: the inclusion of UConn to the Big 12 in the upcoming expansion.

Just saying, it might be hard for Bob Bowlsby and the Big 12 to say no to that, if ESPN should decide to push for the Huskies.